Monday, August 17, 2009

The Walnut Creek City Council will have a special meeting 8 a.m. Tuesday
to discuss passing a temporary moratorium on the opening and operation
of medical marijuana dispensaries.

The meeting takes place at City Hall, 1666 N. Main St.

According to a city staff report, the city has received a building
permit and business license request from a medical marijuana dispensary
operator.

The city has no laws or regulations to deal with the location or
operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. The staff report says the
moratorium would give city staff time to investigate the regulations
needed for such a business.

The moratorium, if approved, would last for 45 days, but the council has
the option to renew the moratorium to last almost two years. City staff
estimates it will take 12 to 18 months to study the issue.

City ordinances do not currently specifically regulate the
location or operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Recently staff
has received a number of inquiries about establishing medical marijuana
dispensaries within the City. The Council is being asked to adopt an
interim urgency ordinance placing a moratorium on the establishment and
operation of medical marijuana dispensaries in order to provide the City
with time to determine whether to adopt an ordinance regulating the
location or operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Staff Contact:
Scott Harriman, Interim Assistant Planning Manager, (925) 943-5899, ext.
2212.

A copy of the city report and proposed ordinance (7 pages) is posted at
http://walnutcreek. granicus. com/MetaViewer. php?view_ id=2&event_ id=65&met\
a_id=30265